Combined lamp-supporting and fender-tie-rod mechanism



Oct E. W. SEAHOLM COMBINED LAMP SUPPORTING AND FENDER TIE ROD MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1921 nomtoz $513 Si: 61mm Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST W. SEAIEIOLll/I, 0F HIGHLAND .PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'IO GENERAL MOTOI-It'S CORPORATION, OF QETROIT', MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COMBINED LAMP-SUPPORTING AND FENDER-TIE-ROD MECHANISM.

Application filed November 21, 1921. Serial 1T0. 516,794.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, ERNEST W. SnAHoLM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Highland Park, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Lamp-Supporting and Fender-Tie-Rod Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art. to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to means for supporting the lamps with which automobiles and similar motordriven vehicles are pro vided and for bracing the fenders associated with oppositely located wheels and holding them the proper distance apart, and the principal object thereof is to provide improved combined lamp supporting and fender tie 0r brace .rod mechanism which performs the double function of supporting the lamps and holding the two oppositely located fenders the proper distance apart; said device including clamping means adapted to simultaneously clamp the lamps, the adjacent fendersand the corresponding ends of the tie rod together, thusproviding a construction in which the act of tightening clamping members adjacent the fenders will simultaneously secure the lamps in place and fasten the corresponding. ends of the tie rod and the adjacent fender together.

A further object of my invention is to provide combined lamp supporting and fender tie rod mechanism of the general 'type' or class above referred to and in which the lamps are adjustable, so that by loosening a clamping member a lamp may be positioned so that its rays-will be projected in the proper direction; after which the act of tightening the clamping device will' simultaneously clamp the lamp inits proper position and secure thea'djacent fender and the associated end of the tie rod together.

A further object of my invention is to provide a. device of the class or type above referred to which will be simple in con struction, and effective for the purpose for which it is designed, which will be neat and pleasing in-appearance and which may be manufactured at a minimum of expense.

Referring now to the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view showing the front end of an automobile in elevation,and equipped with my invention.

Figure 2 is a View showing a section taken upon a vertical plane indicated by the line 2, 2, Figure 1, with parts in elevation as seen from a position to the left of said figure.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing a section taken upon an inclined plane indicated by the line 3, 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating certain details of the device.

Referring now to. the drawing, the reference numerals 5, 6 designate two oppositely located fenders one associated with each of the front'wheels of the vehicle, and 7 designates the radiator of the vehicle. The wheels themselves are not shown as they are unnecessary to an understanding of the invention, and neither does the front axle and other mechanism at the front of thevehicle appear in the drawing. These, however, are matters which will be well under- Secured to each fender upon any suitable portion thereof are brackets 8, 9, the brackets shown having inclined bases so as to pro vide substantially horizontal portions 10 which are shown astubular in form; and the reference numeral 11 designates a transversely extending tie or brace rod the ends of which are shown as extending into the hollow tubular portions 10 of the brackets. This rod may be made in various ways altho I prefer to form the central portion thereof from' comparatively thin wall tubing and to weld end portions 12 thereto, which extend into the hollow horizontal portionsof the brackets.

The reference numerals 13 designate two lamps located'one upon. each side of the vehicle and adjacent the fenders and which lamps are shown as adjustable relative to the brackets 8, 9. Adjustment between these elements may be provided for in various ways altho in the form of 'my invention illustrated each lamp casing is provided with a semi-spherical portion 14 which contacts with a similarly shaped seat 15 provided on the horizontal'portions'10 of the brackets; so that the lamp casing may be made to occupy any position relative to the bracket, within certain limits, to thereby cause the rays of light to be projected in the proper direction.

The lamp upon each side of the vehicle, the bracket supported by the fender upon the corresponding side, and the corresponding end of the tie rod 11 are simultaneously fastened together in my invention by a single clamping device associated with the elements in question, the preferred form of said clamping device being best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing. In said figures it will be seen that the ends 12 of the tie rod which extend into the tubular portions of the brackets are bifurcated, and that a clamping bolt 16 is provided in connection with each lamp; said clamping bolt having an enlarged head 17 which lies inside the lamp casing and a shank which extends between the bifurcations of the part 12 and to the outside of the tubular portion of the bracket, where it is provided with a nut 18, This nut acts against a clamping plate 19 arranged in an opening 20 provided in the- Wall of the tubular portion of the bracket and provided with a curved inner surface to fit the end of the rod; and which clamping plate is forced against the end of the rod as the nut 18 is tightened. Ittherefore follows that the act of tightening the nuts 18 will as regards each lamp draw the spherical portion 14 of the lamp casing against the similarly formed seat 15 of the corresponding bracket, and at the same time force the clamping plate 19 against the end port-ion of the rod, and said end portion as a whole against the opposite interior wall of the tubular portion 10. Thus and by the single act of tightening the nut the lamp will be clamped in whatever position it is placed, and theadjacent end of the tie rod will be forced into holding engagement with the interior of the tubular portion of the corresponding bracket into which it extends; thus providing a device in which a single act only is necessary to secure each lamp in proper position and the adjacent end of the tie rod and the bracket into which it extends together.

The bolt 16 is provided with an intermediate enlarged and flattened portion 21 which lies bet-ween the arms at the end of the tie rod to thereby prevent the bolt from turning, and a transversely extending retaining rod 22 is provided which prevents the bolt from. becoming disengaged fromthe lamp casing when the lamp is removed from its supporting bracket.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combined lamp supporting and fender tie rod mechanism and in combination with two oppositely located fenders; two lamp supporting brackets carried one by each of said fenders, and having each a tubular portion; a tie rod extending between said brackets and the ends of which extend into the. tubular portions thereof; two lamps supported by the tubular portions of said brackets; and two clamping devices associated one with each lamp and each of which is adapted by a single tightening operation to simultaneously secure said lampto its supporting bracket, and said bracket and the adjacent end of said tie rod together. t

2. In combined lamp supporting and fender tie rod mechanism and in combination with two oppositely located fenders, two lamp supporting brackets carried one by each of said fenders and which brackets ends of which are bifurcated and extend in to the tubular portions of said brackets; two lamps supported one by'each of saidbrackets, and which lamps are provided with spherical portions co-operating with the spherical seats aforesaid; two clamping bolts extending through openings provided in said spherical portions and between the bifurcations. at the ends of said tie rod, and acting to clamp the spherical portions of said lamps within the seats aforesaid; and two clamping plates located in openings provided in the, tubular portions of said brackets and adapted to be forced against the ends of said tie rod by the action of said bolts.

3. In combined lamp supporting and fender tie rod mechanism and in combination with two oppositely located fenders, a bracket carried by one of said fenders; a transversely extending tie rod one end of which is in slidable engagement with the other of said fenders; a lamp supported by- ERNEST W. SEAHOLM. 

